Health Information Exchange Systems Solutions Made Easy

The current diversity of information systems and test methodologies used by over 180

,000 clinical laboratories in the United States makes the task of providing an integrating systems for better data utilization and flow truly daunting and very complicated. However, it remains urgent and important that health information exchange systems be fully integrated and coordinated, but the size and scope of this charge, in the capture and normalization of laboratory data alone, is truly massive. Personalized and population based health care will benefit from this achievement. Fortunately, solutions that seem to elude national initiatives are provided by an independent entity that has invested its best people in the enterprise.

Possible data capture solutions

Most of the laboratory data results are on paper and presented in a format that is usually seen by one doctor and does not become immersed in the database of health and wellness providers, due for one to the outdated systems for data aggregation and normalization that is still predominantly in use. Clinical data from laboratories is not included in Personal Health Records (PHRs) for similar reasons. These results in poor outcomes data and insufficient information for care management.

One initiative requires laboratory vendors to support ambulatory computerized physician order entry (cpoe) and to drive more structured lab results back into physician electronic health record (EMR) systems. Another is for the EHR to provide pertinent documentation for public health care management. But for this to be successful a large-scale network need to be developed. And there are many hurdles such as lack of data format and a variety of platforms causing additional expense for clinical laboratories with the consequent "point-to-point" interactions. Resources are extended to the limit and HITECH requirements remain unfilled.

The solution may just be an Integration Technology Framework platform or ITF-Hub. This gateway is designed to accept and distribute data via a centralized organization. An efficient flow of data is made available to other members of the network. National and private groups and individuals can benefit from the stream of normalized data that is already consolidated. And this is where an independent company that is fully equipped with the solution comes into the picture. Data exchange services for all the stakeholders in the healthcare community shall be in place with the most reliable systems and technology platform in the market today.

Another challenge to be faced

For full enabling of real-time exchange of information within healthcare systems, Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO) in the United States is making the effort to achieve a certain level of interoperability. This is all for the Meaningful Use rule which aims at achieving better management of laboratory data. In 2010 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Meaningful Use rule released specifying what hospitals and medical practitioners need to do for a claim of the bonus $27 billion Medicare payments for the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems. But even the RHIOs can learn from the model being put forward by a company that is at the forefront of health information exchange technology.

by: Shaly Criston

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